News from the Pews

Catholicism continues to lose believers to Protestantism in Latin America despite the fact that the current pope comes from the region, although there are still 425 million Catholics there, almost 40 percent of the world total. continue reading »

British singer Elton John praised Pope Francisco once again, this time at a charity concert Wednesday in New York where he said Francis should be made a saint "now," local media reported. continue reading »

Chile will expand the protection of 16 churches in the southern archipelago of Chiloe to ensure that urban development does not encroach on structures which together constitute a U.N.-certified World Heritage Site. continue reading »

Pope Francis issued a call on Thursday for countries to abolish capital punishment and eliminate sentences of life imprisonment because "a lifetime in prison is a hidden death sentence." continue reading »

Pope Francis on Sunday beatified Paul VI during a heavily attended Mass in St. Peter's Square, at which he said of the pope who closed the Second Vatican Council that "he led the Church with wisdom and a vision of the future." continue reading »

Pope Francis has appointed U.S. Jesuit Robert Geisinger as promoter of justice for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he is to investigate clergymen charged with sexual abuse of children and other crimes. continue reading »

The Vatican denied covering up for a former papal ambassador accused of sexually abusing boys and suggested he might have to stand trial on the charges in the Dominican Republic. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, released a statement Aug. 25 in response to journalists continue reading »

Pope Francis phoned the bereaved family of a U.S. journalist killed by Islamic State militants in Syria. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the pope phoned relative continue reading »